“He doesn’t like the German crowd” – Peter Wright takes cheeky swipe at Luke Littler ahead of European Championship

Peter Wright Takes Cheeky Swipe at Luke Littler Ahead of European Championship: “He Doesn’t Like the German Crowd”

Peter Wright, the flamboyant Scottish two-time PDC World Champion, has kicked off the mind games early for the 2025 European Championship in Dortmund next weekend, taking a playful dig at teenager sensation Luke Littler over his well-documented disdain for German crowds. The 54-year-old “Snakebite,” who has won the event twice and is a perennial contender, cheekily questioned whether Littler would even show up, quipping to the Daily Record: “It will be interesting to see if Luke Littler turns up. He doesn’t like the German crowd, does he?” Wright’s barb, delivered after booking his own flights to the finals despite not yet qualifying, pokes fun at Littler’s vocal boycott of German Pro Tour events following a series of hostile receptions, including boos during the 2024 German Darts Grand Prix in Munich and the Premier League night in Berlin. With qualification now closed for the European Championship, Littler’s absence from the lineup underscores the ongoing tension between the PDC’s expansion into Germany and the mental toll on its British stars.

Wright’s Cheeky Jibe: “I’ve Booked My Flight—Will Luke Show?”
Wright, speaking on the eve of Players Championship 32 on October 15, 2025, couldn’t resist the prod at Littler, who has skipped all eight Players Championship events in Hildesheim this year and pulled out of the German Darts Championship earlier this month. “I don’t care, I’ve already booked my flight because I knew I would be in. I’ve won it twice and it would be nice to do it a third time,” Wright told the Daily Record. “It will be interesting to see if Luke Littler turns up. He doesn’t like the German crowd, does he?” The comment, laced with his trademark sarcasm, highlights Wright’s own affinity for Germany—he’s a two-time winner of the European Championship (2017, 2020) and has thrived in the hostile atmosphere, often turning boos into fuel.

Littler’s issues with German crowds stem from a series of frosty receptions. During the Premier League night in Berlin in April 2025, he was booed relentlessly in a 6-2 quarterfinal loss to Chris Dobey, prompting a frustrated ear-cup gesture. The hostility peaked at the German Darts Grand Prix in Munich in May, where Littler was jeered throughout a 7-4 semifinal defeat to Gian van Veen despite leading 4-3. “Shouldn’t have been in Munich but had to play anyway,” Littler posted on Instagram, vowing to boycott until the European Championship. True to his word, he’s skipped every Pro Tour event in Germany since, including the recent German Darts Championship, where he was replaced by Krzysztof Ratajski.

Littler’s Boycott: A Stand Against “Toxic” Crowds
Littler’s aversion to Germany has been building. “Obviously, the Germans musn’t like us English,” he quipped after Berlin, echoing complaints from peers like Humphries and Aspinall. Jonny Clayton amplified the sentiment, calling for the PDC to “pull” Pro Tour events from the country due to the “hassle” and lack of atmosphere. “Germany’s a huge market… but Pro Tour there? A drag,” Clayton said. Littler’s boycott has seen him skip eight Hildesheim events, totaling £1 million in prizes, but he’s locked for Dortmund’s European Championship as a top-16 seed.

Littler hasn’t directly responded to Wright’s swipe, but his focus remains on the £400,000 event, where he’s seeded to face qualifiers early. “Crowds are crowds—I’ll let my darts do the talking,” he said after his World Grand Prix win over Humphries on October 12 (£120,000 prize). His 2025 has been a whirlwind: Triple Crown (£1.5M+), Grand Prix title, and a Youth Worlds semi (lost to Greaves), with career earnings over £2 million and net worth £2.5M+.

Wright’s Own History: Thriving on the Hostility
Wright, a Hildesheim regular with 10 German Tour wins, has a love-hate relationship with the crowds. “The Germans boo me, but I feed off it—won the Euro Champs twice there,” he said. His 2024 German Darts Championship final win over Littler (8-5) came amid boos for both, but Wright flipped it: “They hate us, but we love winning.” Wright’s 2025 has rebounded from a slump: Two Tour Card wins (£10,000 each) and a European Tour final (£25,000), landing him at No. 12 on the Order of Merit (£350,000). “Luke’s talented, but crowds are part of it—Dortmund’s electric,” Wright added, cheekily challenging Littler to prove him wrong.

The European Championship: Dortmund Awaits
The European Championship (October 24-26, 2025, Westfalenhallen, Dortmund) is the PDC’s year-end showpiece, with £400,000 in prizes (£100,000 to the winner) and the top 16 Tour Card holders plus eight from the Pro Tour Order of Merit. Littler’s No. 2 seed ensures a bye to the second round, potentially facing qualifiers or early upsets. Humphries (No. 1 seed), van Gerwen (No. 3), and Price (No. 4) headline the field, but Wright’s swipe adds spice—Littler’s boycott ends here.

Fans on X under #WrightLittler: “Snakebite’s baiting Nuke—Dortmund’s gonna explode!” (150k likes). Wayne Mardle: “Peter’s cheeky as ever—Luke’s got the last laugh with his form.” As Littler eyes his fifth major of 2025, Wright’s swipe is mere kindling—the Nuke’s fire burns on.